Bib product

ABSTRACT

A bib product that includes an elongate, curved retainer that is shaped and sized to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer. A bib sheet is provided for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and includes a tubular neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bib designed to be easily suspended from theneck and removed with one hand, without having to tie or untie fasteningstrings, and without having to position it around the neck by placing itover the head. Bibs have a wide variety of uses, including in medicaland dental offices, feeding infants and geriatrics, and in restaurants.As eating in automobiles becomes more common, bibs would be a usefulaccessory for adults and children that would enable passengers toconsume food and drive without the fear of soiling clothing,particularly if the bib were sufficiently compact and inexpensive sothat it could be disposed of when desired.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bibthat can be easily suspended from the neck and removed with one hand,without having to tie or untie fastening strings, and without having toposition it around the neck by placing it over the head.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bib that isdisposable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bib that iseasily fabricated out of a wide variety of inexpensive sheet materials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bib that isusable with a known type of hair band that can be spread to place aroundthe neck of a user and then assume a normal position to maintain the bibin the desired location suspended from the neck.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved byproviding a bib product, comprising an elongate, curved retainer that isshaped and sized to be movable between a normal position in which theretainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread positionin which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around theneck of the wearer, and a bib sheet for covering the chest and abdomenof the wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by theretainer and fitted against the front of the neck.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the retainer comprisesa plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement betweenthe normal and spread positions.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the neck portion ofthe bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted intoand extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet includesan upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edgeof the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the retainer comprisesa plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement betweenthe normal and spread positions. The neck portion of the bib sheet istubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend outfrom opposite sides of the neck portion. The bib sheet includes anupwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge ofthe bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet is aplastic film.

According to another embodiment of the invention the bib sheet comprisesan absorbent material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheetcomprises a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a bib comprising anelongate, curved plastic band that is shaped, sized and is provided withsufficient flexibility to be movable between a normal position in whichthe retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spreadposition in which the retainer may be placed around and removed fromaround the neck of the wearer. A bib sheet is provided for covering thechest and abdomen of the wearer, and includes a neck portion for beingcarried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck. Theneck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted tobe fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.The bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extendingalong a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto thebib sheet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet is athermoplastic, and the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing,elongate pocket are fabricated by ultrasonically-welding.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet isfabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting ofplastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheetof plastic and absorbent material. According to another embodiment ofthe invention the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongatepocket are fabricated by sewing stitches.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet isfabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting ofplastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheetof plastic and absorbent material, and the tubular neck portion and theupwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by joining areas of thebib sheet with a joining method selected from the group of methodsconsisting of ultrasonically-welding, gluing, sewing, riveting andapplying complementary touch fastener elements.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a bib sheet product isprovided for covering the chest and abdomen of a wearer, and includes aneck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against thefront of the neck. The neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and acurved, spreadable retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend outfrom opposite sides of the neck portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bib sheet includesan upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of thebib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will appear as the descriptionof the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a bib according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the retainer as a separateelement and as inserted in the neck portion of the bib;

FIG. 3 is a view of an alternative embodiment with a laminatedpaper/plastic bib sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a bib product according tothe present invention is shown generally in FIG. 1 at reference numeral10. Bib 10 has two components, a retainer 12 and a bib sheet 14.

The retainer 12 is preferably a conventional plastic hair band of thetype that fits across the top of the head. Such hair bands typicallyhave sufficient “spring” so that it can be spread sufficiently to placeit over the top of the head. When released, the hair band's plasticmemory recovers the hair band to a tensioned position across the top ofthe head. Thus, prior art uses of these head bands rely on the plasticmemory of the head band to maintain sufficient tension across the top ofthe head to hold the band, and the hair beneath it, in the desiredposition. In contrast, the retainer 12 as used in the inventiondisclosed in this application is purposely sized to be substantiallylarger in its normal position than the neck, but with opposite ends thatare sufficiently close together in the normal position to retain the bib10 in its position, as shown in FIG. 3.

One preferred embodiment of the retainer 12 is 2.5 cm wide at thecenterpoint between opposing ends and 1 cm at opposite ends; 12 cmbetween opposing sides at its widest normal position; with a 5 cmopening between the opposing ends. The opposing ends may be spread toapproximately 25 cm, or a 500 percent spread between the normal positionand the spread position. The retainer 12 needs only be spreadsufficiently to allow the ends to pass along opposing lateral aspects ofthe neck. Upon release, the retainer springs back to its normalposition.

The bib sheet 14 is preferably a thin plastic film 16 of any desiredthickness, with a preferable thickness being between 4 and 10 mils.Because the film 16 is non-load bearing, the film is preferably onlysufficiently thick and imperforate to perform the desired function ofprotecting the clothing beneath the bib sheet 14. The bib sheet 14 istherefore inexpensive and disposable.

As is also shown in FIG. 1, the bib sheet 14 is provided with a tubularcollar 18 to receive the retainer 12, as shown. The tubular collar 18 isformed by folding over the top of the bib sheet 14 and inserting sewingstitches to retain the fold in a tubular configuration, as shown.Similarly, the perimeter of the bib sheet 14 may be secured orreinforced by, for example, piping 19 secured by sewing stitches.

Preferably, an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket 20 is formed onthe bottom of the bib sheet 14, and extends along a bottom edge of thebib sheet 14 to catch falling material food or liquid and prevent itfrom soiling clothing below the length of the bib 10.

One suitable overall set of dimensions of a bib sheet 14 intended for anadult are 20 cm wide at the tubular collar 18, 40 cm wide at the pocket20; 20 cm at the midpoint between the collar 18 and pocket 20, and 48 cmlong from the collar 18 to the bottom edge of the pocket 20. Of course,these dimensions are only one example of a wide range of dimensions thatare possible, depending on the intended use. A bib according to theinvention and intended for an infant, for example, would becorrespondingly smaller.

In addition to plastic film, a suitable fabric, an absorbent non-wovenmaterial, and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent paper are otherexamples of materials that can be used for the bib sheet. In particular,as is shown in FIG. 3, a bib 30 includes the retainer 12 as describedabove and a laminated bib sheet 32 of plastic film and absorbent,quilted paper 34, and is particularly suited for use in a dental orother medical office. Disposable laminated bib sheets are presentlyused, but are held in place with a short length of chain or cord withalligator clips on opposite ends that must be attached to each sheetbefore placing on the patient, and then removed after treatment iscompleted before disposing of the sheet. The bib sheet 32 is providedwith a tubular collar 36 to receive the retainer 12, as shown. Thetubular collar 36 is formed by folding over the top of the bib sheet 34and inserting sewing stitches to retain the fold in a tubularconfiguration, as shown. Similarly, the perimeter of the bib sheet 32may be secured or reinforced by, for example, piping 38 secured bysewing stitches.

Preferably, an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket 40 is formed onthe bottom of the bib sheet 32, and extends along a bottom edge of thebib sheet 32 to catch falling material food or liquid and prevent itfrom soiling clothing below the length of the bib 30.

An improved bib product is described above. Various details of theinvention may be changed without departing from the scope of theinvention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferredembodiment of the invention and best mode for practicing the inventionare provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for thepurpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.

1. A bib product, comprising: (a) an elongate, curved retainer that is shaped and sized to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer; and (b) a bib sheet for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck.
 2. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement between the normal and spread positions.
 3. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.
 4. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.
 5. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a plastic band having sufficient flexibility to permit movement between the normal and spread positions, the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion, and further wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, open, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.
 6. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet is a plastic film.
 7. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet comprises an absorbent material.
 8. A bib product according to claim 1, wherein the bib sheet comprises a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material.
 9. A bib, comprising: (a) an elongate, curved plastic band that is shaped, sized and is provided with sufficient flexibility to be movable between a normal position in which the retainer is retained around the neck of a wearer, and a spread position in which the retainer may be placed around and removed from around the neck of the wearer; and (b) a bib sheet for covering the chest and abdomen of the wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck, wherein the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and the retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion, and further wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet.
 10. A bib product according to claim 9, wherein the bib sheet is a thermoplastic, and the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by ultrasonically-welding.
 11. A bib product according to claim 9, wherein the bib sheet is fabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting of plastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material.
 12. A bib product according to claim 11, wherein the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by sewing stitches.
 13. A bib product according to claim 9, wherein the bib sheet is fabricated of a sheet material selected from the group consisting of plastic, fabric, an absorbent non-woven material and a laminated sheet of plastic and absorbent material, and the tubular neck portion and the upwardly-facing, elongate pocket are fabricated by joining areas of the bib sheet with a joining method selected from the group of methods consisting of ultrasonically-welding, gluing, sewing, riveting and applying complementary touch fastener elements.
 14. A bib sheet product for covering the chest and abdomen of a wearer, and including a neck portion for being carried by the retainer and fitted against the front of the neck, wherein the neck portion of the bib sheet is tubular and a curved, spreadable retainer is adapted to be fitted into and extend out from opposite sides of the neck portion.
 15. A bib sheet product according to claim 14, wherein the bib sheet includes an upwardly-facing, elongate pocket extending along a bottom edge of the bib sheet to catch material falling onto the bib sheet. 